St. Philip and St. James Church
Monumental Inscriptions 

St. Philip and St. James Church, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.

The first volume of Gloucestershire Notes and Queries was published in 1881, edited by Rev. Beaver H. Blacker, M.A. The notes below are taken from this volume, and the spelling and grammar are as the original. The surnames have been put in capitals to aid identification.

This list covers only memorial inscriptions within the Church, and was compiled before 1881. Additions are most welcome

There are thirty-nine inscriptions, of which literal copies have been taken; and the following is an index to the names mentioned therein, with the date of death in each case :-

Notes:

Mrs BALL, of Cheltenham. This lady lived for many years in Cheltenham, and died there; and in the Church of St. Philip and St. James, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, there is a monument to the memory of her and her sister with this inscription: -

"Sacred to the memory of Catherine, Widow of the Revd. Robert BALL, late Rector of Drumholme, in Ireland. She died the 26th day of January, 1860, aged 85 years, in the hope of a joyful resurrection through the merits of her blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Also of Mary BLACKER, her sister, eldest daughter of the late St. John BLACKER, D.D., of the County of Armagh. She died on the 27th day of July, 1857, aged 88 years"

Over their grave in the adjacent churchyard there is another inscription to the same effect. Mrs BALL was married first, January 10, 1804, to the Rev. Charles BARKER, late student of Christ Church, Oxford, and Cabon of Wells; and secondly to the Rev. Robert BALL, M.A., Prebendary of Drumholm, and Chaplain of the Royal Chapel of St. Matthew, Ringsend, Dublin, (as mentioned in Blacker's Brief Sketches of the Parishes of Booterstown and Donnybrook, p.201), who died May 12, 1828, and was buried in Stillorgan Churchyard, near Dublin. She founded an almhouse situate not far from the Church of St. Philip and St. James, Leckhampton, and left sundry large bequests for charitable purposes, which are enumerated in Goding's Cheltenham (1863), p.439.

Major-General Sir John Thomas JONES, Bart., K.C.B.
There is a tablet in the Church of St. Philip and St. James, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, with a likeness in bas-relief, and this inscription:- "Sacred to the memory of Major-General Sir John Thomas Jones, Baronet, K.C.B., of Cranmer Hall, Norfolk. He served with distinction in the Corps of Royal Engineers throughout the campaigns of Calabria, Walcheren, and the Peninsula. The Lines of Torres Vedras, the Belgian fortresses constructed after 1815, are lasting memorials of his genius and science. He died at Cheltenham on the 26t], of February, LD. 1843, aged 60 years. A statue has been erected to his memory in St. Paul's Cathedral by the Officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers." It is worthy of note that two of his brothers likewise attained high military rank: Major-General William Daniel Jones, R. A., who died in 1853 ; and Lieut. -General Sir Harry David Jones, G.C.B., Governor of Sandhurst, and Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers, who died August 4,1866. Sir Willoughby Jones, Bart., his (Sir John T. Jones's) eldest surviving son, was returned at the general election in 1847 as parliamentary representative for Cheltenham, but was unseated in May of the year following. His opponent, the Hon. Craven Fitz-Hardinge Berkeley, who was returned at a subsequent election, met with a similar fate before the close of the year.

Rev. Joseph Esmond RIDDLE, M.A. In the Church of St. Philip and St. James, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, there is the following memorial to this highly gifted scholar and divine :- "In memory of the Revd. Joseph Esmond RIDDLE, M.A., who, after serving his God for more than nineteen years as the Minister of this church, was suddenly taken to his rest on the 27th of August, in the year of our Lord 1859, aged 55 years. He was distinguished for theological learning and classical attainments, and was endeared to many by his simplicity of character, his integrity, and his kindness of heart. His congregation, grateful for his steadfastness in holding, and his fidelity in preaching the great the great truths of the everlasting Gospel,' have erected this tablet in testimony of their esteeem and affection, and as an humble memorial of his worth."

He was buried in Leckhampton Churchyard, and over his grave there is this inscription:-

"Here lie the mortal remains of the Reverend Joseph Esmond RIDDLE, M.A., for nearly twenty years Incumbent of the Church  of St. Philip and St. James, in this parish, where a monument, erected by his congregation, testifies the esteem and respect in which he was held by them. He died suddenly on the 27th of August, 1859, aged 55." His numerous writings are not in need of any commendation.

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